Lt. Gov. Tim Murray told students at Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School Wednesday that the state supports what they do – both in words, and with a new grant program.

“You guys are grabbing hold of your own future,” Murray told a classroom full of engineering students.

Murray toured the school’s new construction and took a spin on a homemade Segway scooter before addressing a crowd of several dozen students, along with teachers and members of the Southeastern Regional School Committee.

Murray told the students that with their background in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics – called STEM subjects – will help them in the future to be better paid and to have steadier employment than their peers.

“The sky’s the limit for what you want to do,” he said. “I hope and expect you’ll be advocates for vocational and technical education ... If you graduate from here, brag about it.”

On the trip, Murray has been touting a new grant program that will help vocational-technical schools get funding for big-ticket items. It’s part of the state’s Community Innovation Challenge grant but is earmarked specifically for new equipment at vocational schools. The administration has committed to spending $1 million per year over the next five years.

Grant applications are due April 10 and are maxed out at $25,000 for a stand-alone grant, and $100,000 for a grant matched by the school district or private enterprise.

Southeastern Principal David Wheeler said his school could use the money for a number of things, such as lathes and other machine shop items, science equipment and 3D printers.